Planning For Houseguests

Nothing surpasses summers in Hopkinton with its beaches, history and quintessential small-town, New England friendliness.

Friends and relatives from all over the country choose this time to visit. (Or maybe its just my relatives.)

Whether you plan on lots of guests or just a few, creating a warm, comfortable, environment filled with activities makes house guests feel welcome. 

Setting Up Guestrooms

To freshen up your guest room, invest in an extra set of sheets, towels and blankets. Check out sales in department stores or online.

Hint: Think about purchasing a new pillow-topper for extra comfort.

For children, inflatable mattresses are inexpensive, convenient and can be stored upright during the day.

Making Room

Provide your guests with space to keep their clothes and store their luggage.

Personal Touches

My favorite treat for out-of-town guests is a gift basket for each, filled with unique memorabilia from our town, i.e. Boston Marathon shirts, mugs, or postcards of our town square. Hopkinton Drug has lots of souvenir items.

A fresh spray of wild flowers brightens up any guestroom. Cut them from your garden or stop by one of Hopkinton's beautiful plant nurseries - Angel's Garden Center, Weston Nurseries or Hopkinton Stone and Garden.

For interesting reading materia, leave some bestsellers from the Hopkinton Library in the guestroom. 

Murphy's Law says that guests will forget toiletry items. Have a basket of toothbrushes, toothpaste, luxurious hand cream and mini bottles of shampoo available.

Meal Planning

 Have an activities and menu plan ready. Take into account, restaurants, sitters and takeout meals. Big sanity saver!

Pre-make and refrigerate as many meals as possible.

Go to and stock up on bagels, cold cuts, fruit, muffins, juice boxes and snacks for picnics and the beach.

Activities and Entertainment

Before guests arrive, ask them what sites they'd like to see.

The Hopkinton Library has passes for museums and zoos at discounted rates.

Explore local Hopkinton town attractions and historical sites such as the town square, the Cultural Arts Alliance or Hopkinton State Park. Enter Stage Left has two great shows this summer.

Friday night is Movies on the Common, Saturdays offers Jazz at Sunset at the Cultural Arts Alliance field, and this Sunday at 5 p.m.is the start of .

Stock up on board games, cards, DVD's (library again), and other indoor activities for nighttime and rainy days.